Building an engine from plans?

Hi guys,

Has anyone built either of these steam engines? Whats your opinion, do you think either would make a good marine engine for RC boat use? The first one looks rather simple, but could be made into a twin for more power. There is a raw materials kit available. The second is a twin that doesn't require castings to build. But neither has reverse gear? Not sure how you would gedt reverse without some sort of transmission.

Has anyone built either of these steam engines? Whats your opinion, do you think either would make a good marine engine for RC boat use? The first one looks rather simple, but could be made into a twin for more power. There is a raw materials kit available. The second is a twin that doesn't require castings to build. But neither has reverse gear? Not sure how you would gedt reverse without some sort of transmission.

Hi Pete,
The twin cylinder engine looks very much as tho' it's influenced by Stuart Turners launch engine which at the bore and stroke you will need a big boiler to keep up with the engines needs.

Being a piston valve engine if the designer had made it with outside admission he could have done away with the uniflow exhausts in the side of the cylinder and exhausted it thro' the piston valve and then it's a simple job to make a reversing valve which changes the steam from the inlet to the exhaust and makes it reversible.
If you have never made an engine before and you don't have machining facilities I would suggest that you start on something simpler.

The book thread is a great resource. I can see I have a LOT of reading to do. Earlier this summer I picked up a hobbyist lathe/mill combo tool at a garage sale, and thought maybe I would look into applying it to do something in conjunction with my model boating interests. I see now that I have a big learning curve ahead of me, but thats what makes it all so interesting

The book thread is a great resource. I can see I have a LOT of reading to do. Earlier this summer I picked up a hobbyist lathe/mill combo tool at a garage sale, and thought maybe I would look into applying it to do something in conjunction with my model boating interests. I see now that I have a big learning curve ahead of me, but thats what makes it all so interesting

It's a Unimat 3. It has a milling attachment and a jig saw attachment. A little surface rust on the milling column, but nothing I can't clean up. Theres some other accessories as well, live center, support thingie wil three adjustable arms and a few others. I am looking for a manual so I can identify all the pieces. I found a few web sites with parts and accessories, but no manual. The Unimat looks like it was barely used. I paid $20 for it, so even if I only use it to learn on, I figure it's still not a bad deal.

Henk,
Thanks, that looks interessting, maybe a good project to get my feet wet. I downloaded the pdfs and I am going to read thru it tonight.

Pete I downloaded the plans to, but first I build this one. It is the French wobbler plans from the John Tom engine site.
The Emco Unimat 3 is a fantastic little lathe, I have the predecessor the 4 which I use for clock repair.

Images

It's a Unimat 3. It has a milling attachment and a jig saw attachment. A little surface rust on the milling column, but nothing I can't clean up. Theres some other accessories as well, live center, support thingie wil three adjustable arms and a few others. I am looking for a manual so I can identify all the pieces. I found a few web sites with parts and accessories, but no manual. The Unimat looks like it was barely used. I paid $20 for it, so even if I only use it to learn on, I figure it's still not a bad deal.

Henk,
Thanks, that looks interessting, maybe a good project to get my feet wet. I downloaded the pdfs and I am going to read thru it tonight.

Pete

Pete you must have been in a pirate outfit at that price. I have seen tham go for over $200 (thats when I stoped biding as that was as high as my budget would go). They are a great little machine, I have its bigger brother the emco compact 5 without the milling colum that I payed $1200 for years back. I haven't seen a manual for one recently but I have asked on my Model engineering group forum if I can borrow one to scan. There is a book "Book 32 Unimat III Lathe Accessories (WPS)" That may be helpfull. https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/newr...ply&p=22935231
Regards,
Gerald.

It was one of those rare lucky finds. I stopped at a freinds house and across the street was a garage sale. I nosed around and there it was, all thrown in a cardboard box like trash. I aksed how much and the woman hesitated and said $20. I summoned up all of my negotiating skils and said "sold!". It's probably the only time in my life where I stepped in somehting good. There seems to be something wrong with that link, it goes to the reply page.